The summer transfer window closed over a month ago, but Arsenal’s recruitment team is still hard at work.
Andrea Berta signed eight new players in the summer, and Arsenal’s squad depth is now ‘frightening’ as a result.
It is unlikely that the Gunners will sign anyone for their first team in the January transfer window, but they are always on the lookout to improve their academy.
Berta has an eye on a Real Madrid youngster and has been monitoring him for a few months.
Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal are interested in Real Madrid’s Victor Valdepenas
Arsenal are always on the lookout for talented young players.
The Gunners have one of the best academies in the world, and the quality they have been producing in recent years is just magnificent.
Mikel Arteta’s side have been able to save millions thanks to the emergence of players like Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and now Max Dowman.
Now, Arsenal want to strengthen their academy further by signing exciting young players, and Real Madrid’s Victor Valdepenas is on their radar.
Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Arsenal have been monitoring the teenager for months and are interested in signing him. But it will not be easy.
The journalist said on the Here We Go podcast: “Look, I have one name. It is a talent that Arsenal have been monitoring for a few months now, and is a player they keep observing. It’s not going to be easy at all because he’s a Real Madrid player, but the name is Victor Valdepenas, also called Valde.
“He’s considered an important talent, a very young player from the Real Madrid youth sector, centre-back, Spanish, talented. Arsenal have been monitoring him for some time.
“So he’s one of the players on the radar at Arsenal. Again, he’s a Real Madrid player, and we know very well how difficult it is to sign players from Real Madrid, because all the players want to stay at Real Madrid and consider that as the best project possible.
“So it’s not easy, but for sure, Arsenal have been tracking and monitoring this boy. So we will see what happens in the future.”
Who is Arsenal target Victor Valdepenas?
Valdepenas is an 18-year-old centre-back who currently plays for Real Madrid’s youth team.
The Spaniard has made the senior Los Blancos squad on one occasion, but he was an unused substitute in that game last season.
Valde has been a regular for the Real Madrid Castilla team under Alvaro Arbeloa, and his performances there have caught the eye.
Marca have branded Valde as a ‘physical marvel’ because his intensity and the distance he covers in games are absolutely amazing.
The 18-year-old is primarily a centre-back, but the report claims that he can play as a left-back and a left-wing-back as well, thanks to his physical capabilities.
Valdepenas’ current contract at Real Madrid does not expire until the summer of 2029. It remains to be seen if Arsenal can convince the Spanish giants to let him go in the coming months.
from Arsenal Transfer News | Rumours, Deals & Targets | Arsenal Insider
Shamanth Jayaram